Collier deputies launch campaign to fight distracted drivers

Five seconds: that's how long it takes for your car to travel the length of a football field. If you're texting while driving, it's as if you're driving blindfolded.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has a new campaign to stop distracted driving after 100 people were injured in car accidents in the county in 2016 when someone was using their phone while driving.

"Just drive" is CCSO’s slogan and it hits close to home for Naples resident Erica Melchior.

“I had a friend that died last year. He was riding his scooter on Immokalee Road and he was hit by someone that was texting and driving,” Melchior said.

Ten percent of all crashes in Collier County are caused by a distracted driver. Deputies are talking with community members to try and cut that number down.

“There's no Facebook post or tweet or text that is that important that you can't wait until you get to where you're going. You are jeopardizing someone’s safety and quite frankly their life,” Lt. Rich Hampton said.

Deputies want you to stop emailing, texting, eating, and Facebooking in the car and just drive.

“Just drive. You gotta be reminded. You just need to drive, get to your destination safely,” Naples resident Nathalie Chionas said.

Firefighters from the North Collier Fire Rescue District are also helping to raise awareness. They used the Jaws of Life on a car to show just what it looks like if they have to try to save your life.

“Better unread than dead. Have you seen those signs? Yeah. Don't read your texts, don't even look down at it,” Naples resident Joe Frank said.

Deputies say the split second that you look down at your phone can make the difference between life and death.

“It's a big problem. I see people. You have to drive very defensively here in Naples because people are always looking at their phones and it could be very dangerous,” Melchior said.

Florida does have a texting while driving ban, but a law enforcement official can only cite you for texting while driving if they catch you breaking another law.

Get More: Texting laws

It took Florida lawmakers five years just to pass a bill making texting while driving a secondary offense, meaning officers can't stop you for it but can ticket you if you're caught violating other traffic laws.

A bill to make it illegal altogether couldn't pass last year.

This year, sponsors are trying again but it would only be made a primary offense for teenagers.

That's not going to end the problem, though.

According to government data, more than eight out of 10 distracted driving crashes involve drivers over 19.

Using population, crash data, and the number of people who admitted texting while driving in surveys, the website carinsurancecomparison.com ranked Florida the second worst state for distracted driving in the country.

Arkansas was the worst.

Also, a test by Car and Driver found that at just 35 mph, texting slows down a driver's reaction time more than being legally drunk.

The National Transportation Safety Board has called for a complete ban on all cell phone use while driving, even the use of hands-free devices.